Coefficient file detailed history

RTTOV coefficient file history log

This page documents the history of changes to coefficient files so that you can understand differences between old and new versions. Only changes since May 2014 are documented. Changes that apply to many coefficient files appear at the top of the page followed by file histories for individual files grouped by sensor type. Individual file histories are linked from the main RTTOV coefficients page in the “Date of file creation” column of the coefficient tables.

General coefficient updates

25/11/2020 – RTTOV v13.0 release

  • New v13 predictor coefficients based on LBLRTM v12.8 available for most sensors.
  • New v13 predictor “7gas” coefficients for various hyperspectral and non-hyperspectral sensors with all supported variable trace gases.
  • New v13 predictor Metop-SG ICI coefficients with updated spectroscopy and variable O3.
  • New v13 predictor TROPICS coefficients with correct treatment of polarisation for the surface emissivity.
  • Updated v7/8/9 predictor coefficients based on LBLRTM v12.8 available for most sensors.
  • Updated MTG-IRS coefficients with the latest channel specification (all predictor versions).
  • New cofficients for Nimbus 3 SIRS (v13 predictors and v7/8 predictors).
  • Cloud liquid water optical properties for VIS/IR sensors updated based on newer refractive index dataset.
  • Updated MFASIS look-up table files now trained with Rayleigh multiple-scattering and improved quality flagging.
  • New hydrotable files for RTTOV-SCATT (replacing the old Mietable files) with updated optical properties for MW scattering.
  • New HTFRTC coefficients based on LBLRTM v12.8, available in both netCDF and ASCII formats.

26/09/2017, all MW coefficients

New MW coefficient files are available which now include band-correction coefficients. The optical depth coefficients themselves are unchanged and the impact on brightness temperature of the band-correction is negligible for all sensors, but for some sensors the band corrections make a significant difference to the simulated radiances. It is recommended to use the files with band correction coefficients: these will be the default in the future. RTTOV v12.2 includes a run-time option to turn off the band correction for MW sensors.

NB There are small differences in the Planck constants in the new files compared to the non-band-correction files: the impact on radiances and brightness temperatures of these differences is extremely small.

21/02/2017 – RTTOV v12.1 release

  • All IR optical depth coefficients regenerated using an updated set of training profiles. The reference (background) profiles for CO2, N2O and CH4 reflect contemporary values and the range of training profiles for variable CO2, N2O and CH4 coefficients now encompass concentrations appropriate to the period 1970-202x.
  • All IR optical depth coefficients are available with both v7 predictors (variable O3) and v8 predictors (variable O3+CO2).
  • The v9 predictor visible+IR optical depth coefficients now allow variable O3+CO2.
  • New variable SO2 coefficients are available for hi-res IR sounders.
  • New coefficients are available for some previously unsupported sensors:
    • MTG-LI
    • Meteor-M2 IRFS2
    • Meteor SI
    • Nimbus-6 PMR and SCAMS
    • FY-3D MWHS2, MWRI and MWTS2
  • Coefficients have been updated for some sensors:
    • MTG-FCI – new SRF data available
    • MODIS – changes in Planck-weighting of some channels (Planck-weighted channels are now 4, 5, 6, 10 for v7 predictors and 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 for v8 and v9 predictors)
    • SSMI/S Zeeman – modified set of pressure levels, see file headers for LBL/training information
  • The NLTE bias correction model has changed in v12 and so the NLTE coefficients have been updated in hi-res IR sounder coefficient files. Currently NLTE coefficients are available only for IASI in v12.
  • New IR and visible+IR cloud/aerosol coefficients are available for v12.
  • New PC-RTTOV coefficients are available for IASI which are compatible with the NLTE bias correction.

26/05/2016, all non-zeeman MW coefficients

A major review of the line by line code and procedures has been undertaken, and, as a consequence, a number of bug fixes and improvements have been carried out as detailed below. See the links to the statistics plots below for an indication of the impact on simulated brightness temperatures. New Zeeman coefficients to follow.

MW line by line bug: A bug was discovered in the microwave line by line model which affects a number of sensors. The largest errors are seen in ATMS, MWS and SSMIS where the bug leads to biases of approximately 0.5K in brightness temperature in some channels. The affected sensors are:

  • ATMS
  • ICI
  • GMI
  • MTVZAGY
  • MWHS2
  • MWI
  • MWS
  • SSMIS

183GHz halfwidth T-dependence: In the previous (Sep/Nov 2015) set of MW coefficients the halfwidth of the 183GHz water vapour line used in the line by line model was updated to that in Payne et al (2008); the corresponding temperature dependence of the halfwidth, which was not updated alongside this, has now been installed. This results in differences of order 0.1K in brightness temperature for 183GHz channels.

MWS filter file: The filter file for MWS has been updated according to the latest available information from ESA, with significant changes – MW filter files can be found here.

MHS on NOAA coefficients: Due to a bug in the coefficient generation procedure code, the FILTER_FUNCTIONS header section in the previous versions of the coefficient files rtcoef_noaa_18_mhs.dat and rtcoef_noaa_19_mhs.dat listed specifications for the AMSUB instrument, for which channels 2 and 5 are significantly different (the coefficients themselves were unaffected by this). This has now been corrected.

Other minor changes: The spectral resolution used for the channel averaging of transmittances has been increased in many sensor channels, resulting in some minor differences. Filter files have been reviewed and small errors caused by output precision corrected. The filter file for SSMIS has had minor changes made, so that it now coincides with the specifications given for sensor SN01 (DMSP-20) in Table 4.1 of this JCSDA Office Note, with average bandwidths taken for channels 19-24 where different measured values are given for each passband.

The pages linked below show plots of the mean and RMS difference between brightness temperatures calculated using the new RTTOV coefficients (May 2016) and the previous RTTOV coefficients (Sep/Nov 2015). The brightness temperatures are computed for nadir view (zenith angle 0 degrees) with unit surface emissivity and comprise upwelling atmospheric emission plus the surface emission term. The statistics are calculated for the 83 diverse profile set used to train RTTOV and give an indication of the difference between the new and old coefficients expressed in terms of TOA brightness temperature.

25/09/2015, all IR v7 and v8 predictor coefficients including hi-res IR sounders

A bug was discovered in the coefficient generation related to the 2m water vapour variable which affects all IR v7 and v8 predictor coefficients generated since RTTOV v11.1. The impact of this on simulated brightness temperatures is illustrated in this document. In addition coefficients for some channels of HIRS, IRAS and MODIS are now Planck-weighted as this improves the fit of the optical depth regression:

  • NIMBUS 6 HIRS: channels 9-16 are now Planck-weighted
  • NOAA 5-10, 12 HIRS: channels 10 and 12-16 are now Planck-weighted
  • NOAA 11, 14 HIRS: channels 12-17 are now Planck-weighted
  • NOAA 15-19 HIRS: channels 13-17 are now Planck-weighted
  • METOP 1, 2 HIRS: channels 13-17 are now Planck-weighted
  • IRAS: channels 14-18 are now Planck-weighted
  • MODIS: channels 4-6 (v7/v8 predictor) and channels 23-25 (v9 predictor) are now Planck-weighted
  • For “shifted” coefficients the same channels are Planck-weighted as in the non-shifted files

25/09/2015, all MW coefficients

As described in RTTOV v11.3 Gas Units And New Coefs, all MW coefficients were regenerated for the release of RTTOV v11.3 to fix some bugs and introduce improved spectroscopy.

  • Optical depth predictors are now calculated from water vapour in units of ppmv over dry air to be consistent with the IR coefficients.
  • The treatment of gas units was not consistent within the coefficient generation process and this has been fixed.
  • Updates to the oxygen line parameters and the 183GHz line half-width.

In addition some changes were made to a few individual instrument coefficient files:

  • MWS: some channel pass bands have been updated.
  • AMSR-E and AMSR2: very small changes in some channel central wavenumbers due to change in precision (negligible impact).
  • SSMIS on DMSP-19: satellite height changed from 850km to 852.8km (negligible impact).

Hi-res IR sounders


rtcoef_eos_2_airs*.H5, all predictors, 54L/101L

  • 11/07/2024
    • NLTE coefficients added based on LBLRTM v12.2. No change for simulations without NLTE correction.


rtcoef_fy3_4_hiras.H5, rtcoef_fy3_4_hirasfsr.H5, v7 predictors, 54L/101L

  • 17/12/2019
    • HIRAS coefficients were regenerated with updated channel specifications and apodisation, and both NSR and FSR coefficients are now available.


rtcoef_metop_2_iasi*.H5, all predictors, 54L/101L

  • 11/07/2024
    • NLTE coefficients updated based on LBLRTM v12.8. No change for simulations without NLTE correction.


rtcoef_metop_2_iasi_so2.H5, v9 predictors, 101L

  • 20/03/2017
    • There was an error in the calculation of the original SO2 coefficients. The updated coefficients give an improved fit to the line-by-line training data.


rtcoef_metopsg_1_iasing_so2.H5, v9 predictors, 101L

  • 20/03/2017
    • There was an error in the calculation of the original SO2 coefficients. The updated coefficients give an improved fit to the line-by-line training data.


rtcoef_mtg_2_irs-hamming*.H5, all predictors

  • 23/08/2024
    • Coefficients update based on revised channel specification.
  • 11/07/2024
    • NLTE coefficients added based on LBLRTM v12.8. No change for simulations without NLTE correction.


rtcoef_mtg_2_irs-atbd*.H5, all predictors

  • 23/08/2024
    • Coefficients update based on revised channel specification.


rtcoef_nimbus_4_iris.H5, v8 predictors, 101L

  • 24/06/2015
    • LBL spectral range extended to cover all IRIS channels
    • there are some small differences in output radiances in channels within the previous LBL spectral range (up to 20 microns) due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_nimbus_4_iris-cs3.H5, v13 predictors O3+CO2 and v8 predictors, 101L

  • 09/03/2021
    • IRIS channel wavenumbers now shifted as per the IRIS “-shifted” coefficients


rtcoef_clarreo_1_mrfirs.H5, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 15/09/2017
    • There was a typo in the refractive index dataset which resulted in incorrect coefficients for the IREMIS sea surface emissivity model for channels in the range 34-38µm. The largest impact in TOA BT can be up to 1-2K in very dry atmospheres, but for many profiles the atmosphere is opaque at these wavelengths so there is no impact on simulated radiances.
  • 01/03/2017
    • Truncate spectral range of channel 1 so that it falls within the LBL transmittance database: previously the optical depth regression coefficients for channel 1 were all zero

IR sensors


rtcoef_goes_16_abi.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 31/08/2016
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and SRFs


rtcoef_himawari_8_ahi.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 11/06/2014
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and SRFs
    • channel 7 (index 1 in file) is no longer Planck-weighted
    • channel 9 (index 3 in file) is now Planck-weighted


rtcoef_gkompsat2_1_ami.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 04/05/2021
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and minor updates to SRFs
  • 15/10/2019
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and SRFs


rtcoef_envisat_1_atsr-shifted.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 01/12/2017
    • shift in 12µm channel is now 40nm instead of 50nm


rtcoef_metop_3_avhrr.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 26/11/2018
    • central wavenumbers and band correction coefficients updated with new information (optical depth coefficient values are unchanged)
  • 10/09/2018
    • central wavenumbers and band correction coefficients updated with new information (optical depth coefficient values are unchanged)


rtcoef_iss_1_ecostress.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 10/08/2018
    • updated channel SRFs
  • 07/07/2017
    • updated channel SRFs
  • 01/09/2016
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and SRFs


rtcoef_mtg_1_fci.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 12/05/2022
    • coefficients with updated channel central wavenumbers
  • 26/01/2022
    • coefficients updated using most recent spectral response data
  • 11/06/2014
    • channel 10 (index 2 in file) is no longer Planck-weighted
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_metop_x_hirs-shifted.dat/rtcoef_noaa_x_hirs-shifted.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 17/10/2017
    • Updated channel shifts for NOAA-6,7,8 HIRS from Bin Zhang, Tungchung-Liu, Xi Shao, Changyong Cao (University of Maryland and NOAA/NESDIS/STAR), provided by E. Borbas (see file headers for shifts)
  • 30/05/2017
    • Updated channel shifts for NOAA-9+ and METOP-1,2 HIRS from Bin Zhang, Tungchung-Liu, Xi Shao, Changyong Cao (University of Maryland and NOAA/NESDIS/STAR), provided by E. Borbas (see file headers for shifts)


rtcoef_ticfire_1_mbfiri.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 15/09/2017
    • There was a typo in the refractive index dataset which resulted in incorrect coefficients for the IREMIS sea surface emissivity model for channels in the range 34-38µm (channels 3 and 4). The largest impact in TOA BT can be up to ~0.4K in very dry atmospheres, but for many profiles the atmosphere is opaque at these wavelengths so there is no impact on simulated radiances.


rtcoef_metopsg_1_metimage.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 19/05/2020
    • Coefficients updated with new spectral responses.


rtcoef_coms_1_mi.dat, v7/v8 predictors, 54L

  • 16/10/2017
    • Coefficients updated with shift of +3.5cm-1 in the WV channel.


rtcoef_sbg_1_sbg.dat, all predictors, 54L

  • 05/11/2024
    • Coefficients updated with new spectral responses.


rtcoef_sentinel3_1_slstr.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

Visible/IR sensors


rtcoef_goes_16_abi.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 01/09/2016
    • updated channel central wavenmbers and SRFs
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 6 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_himawari_8_ahi.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 11/06/2014
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and SRFs
    • channel 7 is no longer Planck-weighted
    • channel 9 is now Planck-weighted


rtcoef_gkompsat2_1_ami.dat, v13 predictors (o3/o3co2/7gas), v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/05/2021
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and minor updates to SRFs
  • 15/10/2019 (v9 predictors only)
    • updated channel central wavenumbers and SRFs


rtcoef_eos_1_aster.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 16/11/2015
    • coefficients for IR channels are trained for zenith angles up to ~65 degrees instead of ~84 degrees as for the VIS/NIR channels (reduces errors and larger angles are not required for IR channels on instruments in LEO)


rtcoef_ers_1_atsr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 02/09/2014
    • thermal channels trained over 6 secants instead of 14 secants


rtcoef_ers_2_atsr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 02/09/2014
    • thermal channels trained over 6 secants instead of 14 secants


rtcoef_envisat_1_atsr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 02/09/2014
    • thermal channels trained over 6 secants instead of 14 secants


rtcoef_envisat_1_atsr-shifted.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 01/12/2017
    • shift in 12µm channel is now 40nm instead of 50nm


rtcoef_noaa_15_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_noaa_16_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_noaa_17_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_noaa_18_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 06/09/2015
    • coefficients for IR channels are trained for zenith angles up to ~65 degrees instead of ~84 degrees as for the VIS/NIR channels (reduces errors and larger angles are not required for IR channels on instruments in LEO)


rtcoef_noaa_19_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 17/07/2014
    • add missing 1.6 micron channel
    • coefficients for IR channels are trained for zenith angles up to ~65 degrees instead of ~84 degrees as for the VIS/NIR channels (reduces errors and larger angles are not required for IR channels on instruments in LEO)


rtcoef_metop_1_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_metop_2_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 06/09/2015
    • coefficients for IR channels are trained for zenith angles up to ~65 degrees instead of ~84 degrees as for the VIS/NIR channels (reduces errors and larger angles are not required for IR channels on instruments in LEO)


rtcoef_metop_3_avhrr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 26/11/2018
    • central wavenumbers and band correction coefficients updated with new information (optical depth coefficient values are unchanged)
  • 10/09/2018
    • central wavenumbers and band correction coefficients updated with new information (optical depth coefficient values are unchanged)


rtcoef_mtg_1_fci*.dat, v13 predictors (O3+CO2, O3), 54L

  • 13/05/2022
    • coefficients with updated channel central wavenumbers
  • 26/01/2022
    • coefficients updated using most recent spectral response data

rtcoef_mtg_1_fci.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 13/05/2022
    • coefficients with updated channel central wavenumbers
  • 26/01/2022
    • coefficients updated using most recent spectral response data
  • 11/06/2014
    • channel 10 is no longer Planck-weighted
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 8 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_fy3_1_iras.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/09/2015
    • channels 14-18 are now Planck-weighted


rtcoef_fy3_4_mersi2.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/03/2019
    • The file contained an extra channel (channel 4 was a duplicate of channel 3): this has been removed so that it now has 25 channels.


rtcoef_metopsg_1_metimage.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 19/05/2020
    • Coefficients updated with new spectral responses.


rtcoef_coms_1_mi.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 16/10/2017
    • Coefficients updated with shift of +3.5cm-1 in the WV channel.


rtcoef_eos_1_modis.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/09/2015
    • channels 23-25 are now Planck-weighted
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 7 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_eos_1_modis-shifted.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/09/2015
    • channels 23-25 are now Planck-weighted
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 7 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_eos_2_modis.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/09/2015
    • channels 23-25 are now Planck-weighted
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 7 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_eos_2_modis-shifted.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 04/09/2015
    • channels 23-25 are now Planck-weighted
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 7 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_landsat_8_oli.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 7 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • changes in channel central wavenumbers (in the 3rd significant figure or smaller)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_sentinel3_1_slstr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 08/10/2015
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 6 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • changes in channel central wavenumbers (in the 4th significant figure or smaller)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_landsat_7_tm*.dat, all predictors, 54L

  • 27/10/2022
    • visible channels added for v9pred and v13pred files, very slight changes to coefficients in IR channel for all predictors due to updated coefficient generation system


rtcoef_jpss_0_viirs.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 16/11/2015
    • coefficients for IR channels are trained for zenith angles up to ~65 degrees instead of ~84 degrees as for the VIS/NIR channels (reduces errors and larger angles are not required for IR channels on instruments in LEO)
  • 11/06/2014
    • thermal emission no longer calculated for channel 15 (ss_val_chn=2)
    • small changes in channel central wavenumbers (in the 7th significant figure or smaller)
    • there are some small differences in output radiances due to changes in the precision used in the optical depth regression


rtcoef_fy2_3_vissr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_fy2_4_vissr.dat, v9 predictors, 54L

  • 06/09/2015
    • coefficients for IR channels are trained for zenith angles up to ~65 degrees instead of ~84 degrees as for the VIS/NIR channels (reduces errors and larger angles are not required for IR channels on instruments in LEO)

MW sensors


rtcoef_jpss_0_atms.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 29/01/2018
    • satellite height changed from 824km to 833km


rtcoef_noaa_20_atms.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 29/01/2018
    • satellite height changed from 824km to 833km


rtcoef_noaa_21_atms_srf.dat, v13/v7 predictors, 54L

  • 25/08/2023
    • updated spectral response function data


rtcoef_aws_1_aws.dat, v13 predictors, 54L

  • 09/05/2022
    • updated with new spectroscopy and variable ozone


rtcoef_gpm_1_dpr.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 26/02/2020
    • original coefficients had 4 channels (two frequencies at two polarisations); replaced by a 2-channel file


rtcoef_noaa_18_mhs.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 07/05/2014
    • central wavenumbers and band correction coefficients corrected (previously were taken from AMSU-B)
    • constants used in Planck function updated to be consistent with other coefficient files


rtcoef_noaa_19_mhs.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 07/05/2014
    • central wavenumbers and band correction coefficients corrected (previously were taken from AMSU-B)
    • constants used in Planck function updated to be consistent with other coefficient files


rtcoef_fy3_3_mwhs2.dat, v7 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_fy3_4_mwhs2.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 10/08/2018
    • Channel polarisations were incorrect for channels 1 and 10


rtcoef_metopsg_2_mwi.dat, v13/v7 predictors, 54L

  • 27/02/2024
    • Updated passbands for channels 7-10 and 21.
  • 10/03/2023
    • Channel polarisations were QV/QH, corrected to V/H. Updated passbands for channels 17-26.


rtcoef_hy2_1_mwri.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 26/02/2020
    • A bug in the coefficient generation code means the previous coefficients were wrong and have been regenerated
  • 05/12/2019
    • Instrument ID changed to 106


rtcoef_metopsg_1_mws.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 05/12/2019
    • Channel polarisations modified for channels 19-24


rtcoef_fy3_3_mwts2.dat, v7 predictors, 54L
rtcoef_fy3_4_mwts2.dat, v7 predictors, 54L

  • 10/08/2018
    • Channel polarisations were incorrect for channels 1, 2, 3 and 6


rtcoef_fy3_5_mwts3_srf.dat, v13 and v7 predictors, 54L

  • 13/10/2022
    • Channel polarisations were incorrect for channels 2 and 10


rtcoef_nimbus_6_scams.dat, v13/v7 predictors, 54L

  • 27/06/2022
    • Small updates to spectroscopy to be consistent with other historical sensors


rtcoef_tropics_0_tropics_srf.dat, v13 predictors, 54L, based on measured SRF

  • 12/04/2023
    • Fixed errors in previous updated file.
  • 29/03/2023
    • Revert polarisations to fixed mix of V and H pol.
  • 12/01/2022
    • Polarisations have been updated. W/F band channels are H-pol and G-band are V-pol.